The birth of Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Thaani Hadhrat Shaykh Ahmed Sirhindi (May Allah sanctify his secret)

The verse, “And a small number (among them) will be from the later generations” of Surah Waqiah tells us that in the last era of the world also some great saints will come who will be like the earliest saints.  Hadhrat Imam Rabbani (May Allah be well pleased with him) and his caliphs are among the later saints and with respect to following the Sunnah, their order is like the earliest Muslims i.e. the Companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Hadhrat Shah ‘Abdul Qadir and Hadhrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi and other exegetes of the Holy Quran have taken the word “Aakhireen” to mean the personage of Hadhrat Imam Rabbani (May Allah be well pleased with him) and his caliphs and representatives.

 

Some Hadith also support this interpretation.  As given in Jame’ Tirmidhi:

 

Translation: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: My Ummah is like the rain.  One cannot say whether its first part is better or the last one.

 

There is a Hadith in Jame’ Dur:

 

Translation: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  At the beginning of every century, Almighty Allah will send a Reviver (Mujaddid) in this Ummah who will set right the religion anew.

 

Imam Suyuti has recorded a Hadith in Jam Ul Jawame’:

 

Translation: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  A person in my Ummah will be a Sila (bridge) i.e. he will take the creation to the Creator or he will reconcile mysticism with the Shariah, with whose intercession so many people will enter paradise.

 

Both meanings point to Hadhrat Imam Rabbani (May Allah be well pleased with him) as the person mentioned in this Hadith.

 

The glad tidings about his arrival given by the earlier saints

 

The glad tidings given by Hadhrat Ghouse Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

It is mentioned in Rauza-e-Qayyumiya on the authority of various other authoritative books that once Hadhrat Ghouse Azam was meditating in a jungle when suddenly a radiance emerged in the sky and whole world was illuminated.  Then a thought was put into the blessed heart of Hadhrat Ghouse Azam that 500 years after you when ascribing partners with Almighty Allah and reprehensible innovations in religion will spread in the world, a saint will be born.  He will destroy polytheism and disbelief in the world.  He will review anew the Muhammadan religion.  His company will be alchemy.  His sons and caliphs will be the chief of those invite people to the Unity of Almighty Allah.

 

After this Hadhrat Ghouse Azam gave his son Hadhrat Syed Tajuddin Abdur Razzaq (May Allah shower His mercy on him), his own robe, which was endowed with his special qualities and ordered Hadhrat Tajuddin to give it when the said saint appears.

 

After this the robe was passed on from father to son in the progeny of Hadhrat Tajuddin.  At last in 1013 Hijri Hadhrat Syed Shah Sikandar Qadri handed it over to Hadhrat Imam Rabbani (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

Similarly Hadhrat Shaykh Ahmed Jaam, Hadhrat Maulana Jami, Hadhrat Dawood Qaisri, Hadhrat Khaleelullah Badakhshi and many other saints prophesized the coming of Hadhrat Imam Rabbani (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

The predictions of the astrologers

 

It is mentioned in detail in Rauza-e-Qayyumiya that in 971 Hijri astrologers gathered in the court of Nawab Khan Azam and all of them unanimously said that a certain star has risen since 3 days, which had not risen since the time of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  This shows that man of Allah will revive Islam.

 

The dreams of the members of the royal court

 

Shaykh Sultan and Khan ‘Azam and Madar Ul Ilham Syed Sadr Jahan saw some dreams and requested Hadhrat Shaykh Jalal Kabeer Ul Auliya to interpret them and he said:  The radiance which you have seen emerging from Sirhind is the birth of a great saint and the getting rid of storks and killing of scorpions is the removal of disbelief and reprehensible innovations.

 

The vision of Hadhrat Abdul Ahad (May Allah shower His mercy on him)

 

The father of Hadhrat Imam Rabbani (May Allah be well pleased with him), Hadhrat ‘Abdul Ahad (May Allah sanctify his secret) once saw in meditation that darkness has spread in the world.  Boars, apes and bears are killing people.  Then, a radiance emerged from his chest, which illuminated the whole world and ray of light burnt all the beasts to ashes.

 

Then he saw that a very dignified person is seated on a throne.  Around him, many radiant persons and angels are standing respectfully.  Disbelievers, oppressors and hypocrites are brought before him and are executed.

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdul Ahad related this to Hadhrat Shah Kamal Kethli (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  He meditated and replied:  You will have a son who will be the one of the most distinguished among the saints of the Ummah.  With his radiance, the darkness of polytheism and (reprehensible) innovations in religion will be dispelled and the religion of Islam will receive light and will be promoted.

 

At last on 4th Shawwal Ul Mukarram, Hadhrat Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Thaani (May Allah be well pleased with him) was born in this world.

 

Eight incidents happened when he was born, the details of which are given in Rauza-e-Qayyumiya.

 

Incidents at the time of the birth of Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Thaani (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

(1)  All the saints of the Ummah gathered and congratulated his mother and described to her the great status of Hadhrat Imam Rabbani.

 

(2)  His father saw that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and other Prophets (May peace be upon them) came and said the Adhaan and Iqaamah in his ears.

 

(3)  His father also saw the Prophets (May peace be upon them) and the saints and the gathering of the high angels with 70,000 green flags and heard them describing his greatness and excellence.

 

(4)  Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Aziz, the caliph of Hadhrat Shaykh ‘Abdul Quddus Gangohi, was present in Sirhind at the time of his birth.  He saw that there is a huge multitude of angels and they are describing his excellence.

 

(5)  Shaykh Abul Hasan Chishti was present in Sirhind at the time of his birth.  He saw that all the Prophets (May peace be upon them) and saints are present.  A certain saint stood on the pulpit and said:  Whatever accomplishments were given to different saints separately, Hadhrat Imam Rabbani (May Allah be well pleased with him) has been granted a compendium of all of them.

 

(6)  Until 1 week after his birth, all musical instruments became useless.  Many singers and those who enjoy listening became bewildered and repented (i.e. performed Tauba).

 

(7)  The states of Sufis who listen to singing were constrained for a week.  Through divine unveiling (Kashf), they learnt his attributes and excellence.  On this basis, after his coming, all the saints of the time turned to him.

 

(8)  On the day of Hadhrat Imam Rabbani’s (May Allah be well pleased with him) birth, the throne of Akbar overturned by itself.  No matter how much effort was made, it could not be turned over.  The king saw a terrible dream.  Frightened, he described it to the dream interpreters who said that because of the coming of some great saint, your rule will be disturbed and this is what happened.

 

[Excerpted from Jauhar-e-Mujaddidiya, 2011 edition, Pg. No. 12-19]